Cult-Magic and Myth

To honour the gods, give thanks to them or to pacify the monstrous amongst them was to be the pursuit of man whose belief had shaped the myth. None of this seemed possible to him other than through external works. But soon he believed to feel that the form of the ritual was important when carrying out these acts. Not every custom when making sacrifices, giving thanks or singing praises seemed to have the same value in the estimation of the gods. Therefore he rejected the forms of reverence and sacrifice which failed to meet with the approval of the gods, and practised other forms which would, as he believed, bring their favour. Providing a greater guarantee for the fulfilment of his own wishes led him to adhere strictly to apparently secure, tried and tested customs. The cult of the gods had found its established form.

Let us speak here of the cult inasmuch as it makes itself felt as magic for the sake of man! The Godhead which needs man in order to reveal itself to man, truly does not require a cult for its own sake. However, the cult which effects itself as magic can free the spirit of man from its sleep in the ‘animal’, and open up to it a realm of influence which teaches it to recognise that it can even get help where all ‘animal’ might senses its limits.

Contents in English

Preface1. The work of man2. Myth and reality3. Myth and cult4. Cult as magic5. Magic and recognition6. The inner light7. Conclusion